Bicycling

Activity guides

Schuylkill Banks Bicycling Basics

Schuylkill Banks is the best spot to join the Schuylkill River Trail from Center City, South Philadelphia and West Philadelphia. The trail currently runs 1.5 miles along Schuylkill Banks in the heart of Philadelphia before connecting with Kelly Drive.

Bike rentals are available from the Wheel Fun Kiosk located between Lloyd Hall and Boat House Row. Kiosk hours and rental information is available here.

Looking for a new place to bike? Grays Ferry Crescent has 4,017 feet of bike trails. Access points to this new segment of Schuylkill Banks are located on the 34th Street Bridge, Grays Ferry Avenue & 36th Street, and Wharton Street & Schuylkill Avenue. Please walk all bikes on the 34th Street Bridge ramp. This section will eventually be part of the link from Center City to Bartram’s Garden. There are existing bike lanes connecting Grays Ferry Crescent to the Boardwalk and Bartram's Garden.

Parts of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (West River Drive) connecting to Schuylkill Banks are closed to automobiles Saturdays and Sundays in April through October. MLK Drive between the Art Museum and Sweetbriar Drive is bicycles and pedestrians only from 7am to noon and MLK Drive from Sweetbriar Drive to the East Falls Bridge is bicycles and pedestrians only from 7am to 5pm on these weekends. You can connect to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive from the north end of Schuylkill Banks, simply turn off the trail when you reach the Schuylkill Banks Plaza and Pergola and enter MLK Drive at the signalized pedestrian crossing.

Cycling Safety

Please be aware of your surroundings while cycling on the Banks - keep an eye out for pedestrians, kids, pets, skaters, and other cyclists. The trail can be very crowded, especially during commute times, lunch time, and weekends in the spring through fall and during Schuylkill Banks events. Slow down when the trail is crowded and announce yourself when passing on the trail. Bike racks are located conveniently along the trail; please do not lock bikes to trees or in locations that block trail traffic. Please walk your bike on all ramps and railroad crossings.

Getting to Schuylkill Banks Center City on bicycle

From South Philadelphia: Take the 22nd Street bike lane to South Street, turn left on South Street and take the bike lane past Schuylkill Avenue and up the South Street Bridge to the Boardwalk access ramp. Please walk your bike on the ramp.

From Rittenhouse Square, Fitler Square and adjacent neighborhoods: Take the Spruce Street bike lane to 25th Street, turn right on 25th Street and then turn left at the at-grade railroad track crossing into Schuylkill Banks. If this entrance if it is blocked by a train, walk your bike over the Schuylkill River Parks Connector Bridge just south of the at-grade crossing.

From West Philadelphia or central Center City: Take Chestnut Street Bridge, Market Street Bridge or JFK Boulevard Bridge to the east side of the Schuylkill River and then take the Ramps from Chestnut and Market Streets or the JFK stairs down to Schuylkill Banks.

From Logan Square and nearby neighborhoods: Take Cherry Street past 23rd Street until just before the CSX railroad tracks, then turn right and continue one block to Race Street. The at-grade railroad track crossing onto Schuylkill Banks will be on your left. Do not use this entrance if it is blocked by a train.

From the Art Museum area: Starting at Eakin’s Oval take Martin Luther King Jr. Drive just south of the Art Museum and use the signalized crossing to cross MLK Drive and enter Schuylkill Banks by the Plaza/Pergola. Alternately, take Kelly Drive South, continue on the trail past the Fairmount Water Works and under the Spring Garden and MLK Drive bridges to connect directly to Schuylkill Banks.